Queen Latifah sues in N.Y. over cameo film role

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. actress and singer Queen Latifah sued a small film production company that helped finance the movie "The Perfect Holiday" on Wednesday, saying she had not been paid any money for the film.

Lawyers for Queen Latifah, an Academy Award-nominated actress and Grammy Award-winning singer whose real name is Dana Owens, said in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court the California-based company, Perfect Christmas Productions, had breached her contract and owed her $275,000 for a cameo role in the film.

"The Perfect Holiday," which was also produced by Owens, 38, was released in December 2007, starring Terrence Howard and Gabrielle Union. It grossed more than $5.8 million by February, 2008 in the United States, according to Box Office Mojo.

The lawsuit said Perfect Christmas Productions was believed to have been paid several million dollars by third parties for "The Perfect Holiday," which was originally known as "Perfect Christmas."